The Ottawa free trader., 1887-10-15

hand upon the shoulder Of the younger
man, sit was because thought the mat
ter sufficiently momentous to claim my
own private and especial attention"
~ ask your excellencys PARDON" said
the young man, reddening through his
fresh complexion like q girl; III only
meant'--
"That you would ask to be relieved to-
night" interrupted Washington, with
benign smile, "forasmuch as you wished
the more to show entertainment to our
dear friend Miss Schuyler, and her guest;
a wayward girl. colonel, but, methinks,
an honest one. Treat her of your own
quality, colonel, but discreetly, and not
too kindly, lest we have Mistress Schuy-
Ter, another injured damsel, on our
hands," and with half playful gesture
peculiar to the man, and yet not inconsis-
tent with his dignity, he half led, half
pushed his youthful secretary from the
room.
When the door had closed upon the col
onel, Lady Washington rustled toward
her husband, who stood still, quiet and
passive, on the hearthstone.
"You surely see in this escapade nothing
OF political intrigue-no treachery'" she
said hastily
"No," said Washington quietly.
"Nothing more than an idle, wanton
intrigue with a foolish, vain country girlS"
"Pardon me- my lady," said Washing
ton gravely. 81 doubt not we may mis-
Judge her. 'Tis no common rustic class
that can thus stir the country side. 'Twere
30, 20 haliaya Ia
not yet sure that she has not captured
even so high game as she has named. II
she has, 1t would add another interest to a
treaty of comfy and alliance"
"That creatureN' said Lady Washing
ton-'that light o. love with her Con-
necticut captain lover! Pardon me, but
this is preposterous;" and with stiff
courtesy she swept from the room, leav-
ing the central figure Of history-as such
central figures are apt to be left-alone.
Later in the evening Mistress Schuyler
so far subdued the tears and emotions of
Thankful that she was enabled to dry her
eyes and rearrange her brown hair in the
quaint little mirror in Mistress Schuyler's
chamber, Mistress Schuyler herself lend
ing touch and suggestion here and there,
after the secret freemasonry Of her sex.
"You are well rid of this forsworn cap
tain, dear Mistress Thankful; and me-
thinks that with hair as beautiful as
yours, the new style of wearing it, though
a modish frivolity, is most becoming l
assure YOU tits much affected in New
York and Philadelphia-drawn straight
back from the forehead, after this man
ner, as you see."
The result was that an hour later Mis-
tress Schuyler and Mistress Blossom pre-
sented themselves to Col. Hamilton In the
reception room, with certain freshness
and elaboration of toilet that not only
quite shamed the young officers affaire
negligence, but caused him to open his
eyes in astonishment. "Perhaps she
would rather be alone, that she might in
dulge her grief" he said, doubtingly, In
an aside to Miss Schuyler, "rather than
appear in company"
"Nonsense," quoth Mistress Schuyler.
Is a young woman to NOPE and sigh be-
cause her lover proves falseS'
"But her father is a prisoner" said
Hamilton, in amazement.
"Can you look me in the face" said
Mistress Schuyler, mischievously, "and
tell me that you don't know that In
twenty-four hours her father will be
cleared of these chargesY Nonsensel DO
you think l have no eyes in my head'
Do you think misread the generals face
and your owng"
"But, my dear GIRL" said the officer, in
alarm.
ooh! told ner so, but not why" re-
sponded Miss Schuyler with wicked look
In her dark eyes, "rhough had warrant
enough to do SO, to serve you for keeping
a secret from meV'
And with this Parthian shot she re-
turned to Mistress Thankful, who, with
her face pressed against the window, was
looking out on the moonlit slope beside
the Whippany river.
For by one of those freaks peculiar to
the American springtide, the weather had
again marvclously changed. The rain
had ceased, and the ground was covered
with an icing Of sleet and snow, that now
glttered under clear sky and n brilliant
moon. The northeast wind that shook
the loose sashes of the windows had trans
formed each dripping tree and shrub to
icy stalactites that silvered under the
moons cold touch.
"'Tis beautiful sight, ladies', said a
bluff, hearty, middle aged man, joining
the group by the window. "But God
send the spring to US quickly, and spare
us any more such cruel changesl My lady
moon looks fine enough, glttering In
yonder tree tops; but | doubt not she
looks down upon many n poor fellow
shivering under his tattered blankets In
the camp beyond. Had ye seen the Con
necticut tatterdemalions file by last night,
with arms reversed, showing their teeth
at his exeellency, and yet not daring to
bite; had ye watched these faint hearts,
these doubling Thomases, ripe for re-
bellon against his eXcellency, against the
cause, but chiefly against the weather.
ye would pray for thaw that would
melt the hearts Of these men as 1t would
these stubborn fields around us. Two
weeks more Of such weather would raise
up not one Allan Brewster, but a dozen
such malcontent puppies ripe for drum
head court martial"
"Yet tits fine night, Gen. Sullivan,
said Col. Hamilton, sharply nudging the
ribs of his superior officer with his elbow.
''There would be little trouble on such a
night, fancy, to track our ghostly visi-
tant." Both Of the ladies becoming in
terested, and Col. Hamilton having thus
adroitly turned the flank OF his superior